Quenching apparatus



Sept. 30, 1958 H. N. IPSEN 2,854,013

QUENCHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1956 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 III. I J

Sept. 30, 1958 H. N. IPSEN QUENCHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Shoet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1956 2| wvam'w'cva mar 1 M,

Sept. 30, 1958 H.-N. IPSEN 2,854,013

QUENCHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet s OHY-rcramsvw United States Patent O QUENCHING APPARATUS Harold N. Ipsen, Rockford, 11!.

Application October 8, 1956, Serial No. 614,680

12 Claims. (Cl. 134-182) This invention relates to heat treating apparatus of the type having a quenching chamber containing a liquid which is agitated to flow across exposed surfaces of workpieces immersed in the liquid.

The general object of the invention is to provide, in apparatus of the above character, novel liquid circulating means which effectually recirculates liquid in all parts of the quenching chamber, maintains an even temperature of the flowing liquid in different parts of the chamber, and distributes the flowing liquid uniformly across the exposed work surfaces.

Another object is to obtain evenness of temperature by withdrawing the liquid in a plurality of streams from spaced parts of the chamber and intermixing the streams before they are caused to flow back into the chamber.

A further object is to circulate the liquid through outlet and inlet compartments communicating with the chamber through a plurality of outlet and inlet openings which are spaced around the chamber in a novel manner to insure uniform flow of the quenching liquid past the workpieces.

A more detailed object is to provide a novel arrangement of U-shaped inlet and outlet compartments disposed one above the other to obtain a vertical flow of quenching fluid past the workpieces.

The invention also resides in the novel and simple construction of the compartments and arrangement of bafiies to insure a smooth, steady how of quenching liquid in desired paths.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of a furnace and quenching apparatus embodying the novel features of the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken respectively along the lines 22 and 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view showing the path of quenching liquid flow.

In the apparatus shown in the drawings to illustrate the present invention, metal workpieces W to be treated are heated in a chamber of a furnace 11 having an outlet opening 12 controlled by a door 13. The Workpieces usually are carried in a tray 14 having perforated side and bottom walls and resting on the floor 15 of the chamber during the heating operation.

After the work has been heated, the tray 14 is transferred out of the furnace through the opening 12 and onto spaced parallel rollers 16 of an elevator platform 17 by which it is lowered into a quenching liquid 18. The latter is contained in a chamber 19 within a tank 20 disposed below the opening and having a bottom wall 21 and insulated side and end walls 22, 23 and 24. To perform the heating and quenching in a controlled atmosphere, the furnace Opening, the elevator platform and the tank are enclosed in this instance by a box-like casing 25 having an exit opening-26 in the side thereof opposite 2,854,013 Patented Sept. 30, 1958 the furnace. Lowering of the platform from the level of the furnace floor 15 to an immersed position within.

the liquid and raising of the platform is efiected by a motor shown as a hydraulic cylinder 27 mounted on the casing and having a piston whose rod 28 is connected to the platform through an inverted yoke framework 29'.

Downward movement of the platform may be limited to a position above the bottom wall 21 by suitable stops (not shown) or by abutment of the piston with the end of the cylinder.

In accordance with the present invention, the quenching liquid 18 is circulated in a novel manner to insure a substantially uniform flow of the same across exposed surfaces of diiferent workpieces W supported on the tray 14 in the quench chamber 19 and to maintain an even temperature of the liquid thus flowing past the workpieces. To achieve evenness of temperature throughout the chamber 19, the liquid is Withdrawn from spaced outlet openings 39 of the chamber in a plurality of outlet streams which are caused to merge and mix With each other before flowing back to the chamber. Uniformity of flow through the chamber is obtained by dividing the mixed liquid into a plurality of inlet streams which flow back into the chamber through inlet openings 31 spaced from each other and the outlet openings.

Generally, the improved flow pattern is effected by the provision of inlet and outlet compartments 32 and 33 one of which includes spaced leg portions 34 communi- 1 eating with the quench chamber 19 through the inlet openings 31 and merging with each other at a junction 35. The other or outlet compartment 33 similarly comprises spaced leg portions 36 communicating with the chamber through the outlet openings 30 and merging at a junction 37 which is connected to the inlet junction 35 through a common passageway 38. With this arrangement, the liquid may be forced through the compartments 7 and the chamber by a single impeller 39 located in the passageway 38.

Where, as in this instance, it is desired that the quenching liquid 18 flow vertically across and past the work-n pieces W, the inlet openings 30 are spaced vertically from the outlet openings 31 by disposing the compart-.

ments 32 and 33 one above the other in spaced horizontal planes. To achieve this arrangement while simplifying the construction, each compartment is of U-shape with its leg portions extending along and defined partially by the side walls 22 of the tank 20. The closed end portion or junction of each U extends along and is defined in part by the front wall 23 of the tank. Further, the upper compartment 32 is disposed directly on top of the lower one with a horizontal U-shaped divider plate or partition 40 extending around the front and side walls and projecting inwardly therefrom to form a common Wall sepa- 40 and 41 and the bottom wall 21 to form the closed end portions or junctions 35 and 37 of the two compartments is a vertical center partition 42. The latter spans the bottom tank wall and the upper plate between the leg portions 34 and 36 of the compartments and is bolted to angle brackets 43 welded to the respective plates and the bottom wall. At its upper end, the vertical plate projects beyond the upper compartment and is connected to a guard plate 44 for preventing liquid flow into the space above the closed ends of the compartments as shown in Fig. 1.

When arranged in the above manner, the compartments chamber. Vertical spacing of the inlet and outlet openings on each side of the chamber is effected herein by closing parts of the inner sides of the legs adjacent the divider plate 40. For this purpose, vertical bafiie plates 45 extending the full lengths of the leg portions and having lower and upper edges spaced respectively from the bottom tank wall 21 and the upper U-shaped plate 41 are bolted to upturned flanges 46 on the divider plate (Fig. 3) and to angle bars 47 (Fig. 2) welded to the upstanding center plate 42.

The desired flow of the quenching liquid 18 within the quench chamber 19 is in paths extending first inwardly from the inlet openings 31 and horizontally above the work tray 14, then vertically through the latter, and finally horizontally and outwardly through the outlet openings 30. Such flow is insured by horizontally disposed deflectors 48 and 49 extending respectively along the lower edges of the inlet openings and along the upper edges of the outlet openings. In this instance, the upper deflectors 48 are the upper edge portions of the vertical baffle plates 45 bent horizontally toward the chamber. The lower deflectors 49 are horizontally disposed arms of angle plates of L-shaped cross-section having their other arms bolted to the lower edge portions of the vertical baflle plates 45, the lower deflectors extending inwardly far enough to underlie opposite side edge portions of the work tray when the latter is in its lower position.

To distribute the liquid flowing into the quench cham ber 19 substantially uniformly throughout the length of the chamber, a plurality of baffles 50 are spaced along and extend horizontally across each leg 34 of the inlet compartment 32 adjacent the inlet opening 31 to intercept parts of the liquid flowing toward the end of the leg and direct the same inwardly and through the opening. Herein, where the upper compartment is shown as the inlet compartment, the baffles are formed as rectangular vanes welded along one side edge of the upper U-shaped plate and curved lengthwise to extend first horizontally and inwardly from the inlet opening 31 and then along the associated leg and toward the closed end of the upper compartment.

It has been found that the desired uniformity of distribution lengthwise of the quench chamber 19 is obtained by extending the vanes 50 vertically across the associated inlet leg a distance slightly longer than the width of the inlet opening 31 (Fig. 3) with the vane next adjacent the closed end 35 extending horizontally only partially across the leg and with the remainder of the vanes extending all of the way across the leg as shown in Fig. 2. To adapt the apparatus for liquid flow upwardly through the quench chamber as well as downwardly as shown, similar vanes 51 are arranged in the legs 36 of the lower compartment 33 with their lower side edges welded to the bottom tank wall 21.

The impeller 39 in this instance comprises a screw propeller fast on the lower end of a vertical shaft 52 which is journaled in a sleeve bearing 53 and is held against movement axially relative thereto by collars 54 detachably secured to the shaft. The bearing is rigid with a flat plate 55 bolted to the U-shaped cover plate 41 and covering an aperture 56 therein. At its upper end which projects beyond the supporting plate 55, the shaft carries a sprocket 57 connected by a chain 58 to another sprocket 59 which is driven by a suitable reversible motor (not shown).

The passageway 38 for the flow of fluid between the closed ends 35 and 37 of the compartments 32 and 33 extends through an aperture 69 in the divider plate 40 and is defined by a tubular member 61 of circular cross section surrounding the propeller. obtain a smooth and uniform liquid flow between the compartments, the tubular member 61 extends beyond the plane of the propeller and flares outwardly therefrom in the direction opposite to that of the incoming liquid. In this case where liquid flow in either direction is desired, the member flares outwardly at both of its ends. To support the member, a flange 62 rigid with and projecting outwardly therefrom is bolted to the divider plate 40 and to brackets 63 (Figs. 1 and 3) rigid with the center plate 42.

Smoothness in the mergence of the two streams flowing toward the passageway 38 and in the division of liquid flowing away from the passageway into two streams is achieved by two guides 64 and 65 of generally V-shaped cross-section mounted in the respective compartments 32 and 33 on the horizontal walls thereof opposite the passageway. Each guide comprises two plates spanning the vertical Walls of the associated compartment and curving away from the horizontal wall and into mergence with each other at the apex of the V where they are secured together. The lower guide 65 is bolted to the bottom I tank wall 21 and the upper guide 64 is welded to the propeller supporting plate 55 and is apertured to receive the lower end of the bearing sleeve 53. To smooth the liquid flow at the corners of the compartments where the legs join the closed ends, curved vertical baflle plates 66 spanning and secured to the horizontal walls of the respective compartments extend around the corners and merge with the side and front walls 22 and 23 of the tank. At their ends adjacent the legs, these plates are curved inwardly away from the tank walls and toward the shorter ones of the leg baifles 50 and 51 as shown in Fig. 2.

Toenable the quench liquid 18 to be maintained at a v desired temperature through successive quenching operations, suitable heating and cooling means is provided within the tank. In this instance, heating is eflected by energizing electrical heating coils 73 supported on the upper side of the divider plate 40 within the legs 34 of the upper compartment 32. The quench liquid is cooled by circulating a cooling fluid from a suitable source (not shown) through pipes 74 mounted on the underside of the divider plate in the legs 36 of the lower compartment 33.

Assuming the propeller 39 is turning in a direction to cause the quenching liquid to flow upwardly through the passageway 38, such liquid, as it leaves the latter, is directed against the upper guide 64 and is divided thereby into two streams which flow horizontally and outwardly along the closed end of the upper compartment 32 and in opposite directions toward the legs 34 thereof as indicated by arrows 67 and 68 in Fig. 4. The liquid in these streams is guided smoothly into the upper legs by the corner baffles 66 and is distributed substantially uniformly along the lengths of the legs by the baifles 50 which cooperate with the upper deflectors 48 to direct the liquid horizontally into the upper portion of the quench chamber 19 through the inlet openings 31. The two streams then merge and flow downwardly through the central portion of the chamber as indicated by arrows 69 (Fig. 4). With the lower deflectors 49 extending beneath the side edges of the work tray 14 and the latter suspended closely adjacent or in contact therewith, all of the downwardly flowing liquid is forced through the tray and thus past the workpieces thereon.

Beneath the tray, the liquid againis divided into two streams which flow out of the chamber through the outlet openings 30 and into the legs 36 of the lower compartment 33 as indicated by arrows 70 and 71 in Fig. 4. These streams flow along the legs and into the closed end 37 of the compartment where they are directed smoothly by the lower guide 65 into mergence as a single stream 72 at the entrance of the passageway 38. The flow of this stream into the passageway is smooth due to the outward To avoid surges andflare of the tubular member 61 which is believed to eliminate eddying of the liquid at the end of the member. If it is desired for the liquid to flow upwardly past the work, the direction of the propeller 39 is reversed, such liquid reversal being permitted by the provision of the bafiies 50 and 51 and the guides 64 and 65 in both compartments.

It will be apparent that extension of the inlet and outlet openings 30 and 31 the full length of the quench chamber 19 and spacing of the same in opposite sides of the chamber insures continuous movement and recirculation of substantially all of the liquid. Due to withdrawal of the liquid in the two streams 70 and 71 and mergence of the latter at 72 prior to return to the chamber, the liquid is mixed thoroughly so that the temperature of the liquid in diflferent parts of the inlet streams 67 and 68 is uniform. Also, the velocity and the volume of liquid flowing in different parts of the inlet streams and thus across workpieces in ditferent parts of the tray is kept substantially uniform by the bafiies 50 and their spacing along the inlet legs 34. Due to such uniformity of temperature, volume and velocity, it is possible to control each quenching operation closely and thereby obtain duplicate results not only with workpieces in each batch but also in successive batches.

I claim as my invention:

1. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank having an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and upper and lower U-shaped compartments disposed one above the other and each having horizontally spaced legs extending along opposite sides of the chamber, means on the inner sides of said legs defining openings established communication between said compartments and said chamber and extending substantially the full length of the latter, means defining a passageway between said compartments at their closed end portions, liquid blocking wall means separating said compartments and confining the fiow of liquid into and out of the same to paths extending through said openings and said passageway, a reversible impeller mounted in said passageway and operable when activated in one direction to cause liquid to flow from a first one of said compartments into the other through the passageway, through the legs of the other compartment and said openings therein and into said chamber, and from the latter and back to the passageway through the openings and around the closed end and legs of the first compartment, a first series of bafile members in each of said legs of said other compartment spaced apart longitudinally of the leg and projecting inwardly from said opening therein and across the leg to intercept different parts of the liquid flowing outwardly along the leg and provide a uniform distribution of liquid flowing into said chamber through the opening, said impeller operating, when activated in the reverse direction, to cause liquid to flow reversely into said chamber from said first compartment and out of the chamber into said other compartment, and a second series of bafile members in said first compartment similar to said first series operating during said reverse liquid flow to distribute liquid uniformly along said legs in the first compartment.

2. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank having an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and upper and lower U-shaped compartments disposed one above the other and each having horizontally spaced legs extending along opposite sides of the chamber and communicating with the latter through openings on their inner sides, means defining a passageway between said compartments at their closed end portions, liquid blocking wall means separating said compartments and confining the flow of liquid into and out of the same to paths extending through said openings and said passageway, a reversible impeller mounted in said passageway and operable when activated in opposite directions to cause liquid fiow in corresponding directions along a path extending from said lower compartment to said upper compartment through said passageway,

through the upper legs and said openings therein and into said chamber, and from the latter and back to the passageway through the openings and around the legs and closed end of the lower compartment, and a series of battle members in each of said legs operable, when liquid s flowing outwardly along the leg and through said openmg therein, to intercept different parts of the liquid and distribute the same uniformly along the opening.

3. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank having an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and upper and lower U-shaped compartments disposed one above the other and each having horizontally spaced legs extending along opposite sides of the chamber, means on the inner sides of said legs defining openings establishing communication between said compartments and the chamber and extending substantially the full length of the latter, means defining a passageway between said compartments at their closed end portions, liquid blocking wall means separating said compartments and confining the flow of liquid into and out of the same to paths extending through said openings and said passageway, an impeller mounted in said passageway and operable when activated to cause fluid to flow from a first one of said compartments into the other through the passageway, through the legs of the other compartment and said openings therein and into said chamber, and from the latter and back to the passageway through the openings and around the closed end and legs of the first compartment, and a series of bafile members in each of said legs of said other compartment spaced apart longitudinally of the leg and projecting inwardly from said opening therein and across the leg to intercept ditferent parts of the liquid flowing outwardly along the leg and provide a uniform distribution of liquid flowing into said chamber through the opening.

4. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank having an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and upper and lower U-shaped compartments each havinga closed end portion joining legs spaced apart on opposite sides of the chamber and communicating with the latter through openings on their inner sides, said .compartments having a common dividing wall defined by a plate of U-shape extending horizontally between the compartments and having an aperture in its cloesd end portion establishing communication between the compartments at their closed end portions, a reversible impeller mounted in said aperture and operable, when activated in opposite directions, to cause liqiud to flow in corresponding directions in a path extending from a first one of said compartments into the other through the aperture, through the legs of the other compartment and said openings therein and into said chamber, and back to the aperture through the openings and around the closed end and legs of the first compartment, and a tubular member surrounding said impeller and secured to and projecting beyond opposite sides of said plate, said member flaring outwardly toward its opposite ends to provide a smooth flow of liquid toward said impeller from each of said compartments in the different directions of liquid flow along said path.

5. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank divided into an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and two compartments each having leg portions connected to each other at a closed end portion and spaced apart on opposite sides of the chamber, each of said leg portions of each of said compartments having openings establishing communication between the leg portion and said chamber and spaced within the latter from the openings of the leg portions of the other compartment, means defining a passageway between said closed end portions of said compartments, liquid block ing wall means separating said compartments and confining the flow of liquid into and out of the same to paths extending through said openings and said passageway, and an impeller mounted in said passageway and operable to cause fluid to flow from a first one of said compartments to the second compartment, through the leg portions of the latter and the openings therein and into said chamber, from the chamber and into the leg portions of the first compartment through the openings therein, and back to the passageway through the leg and closed end portions of the first compartment, theend portion of said passageway adjacent said first compartment flaring outwardly to provide a smooth flow of liquid into the passageway from the first compartment.

6. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank having an upwardly opening Work receiving chamber and upper and lower U-shaped compartments each having a closed end portion joining legs spaced apart on opposite sides of the chamber and communicating with the latter through openings in their defining walls, said openings of said upper compartment being spaced above said openings of said lower compartment, means defining a passageway between said compartments at their closed end portions, liquid blocking wall means separating said compartments and confining the flow of liquid into and out of the same to paths extending through said openings and said passageway, a reversible impeller mounted in said passageway and operable when activated in opposite directions to cause liquid flow in corresponding directions along a path extending from said lower compartment to said upper compartment through the passage, through the upper legs and said openings therein and into said chamber, and from the latter and back to the passageway through the openings and around the legs and closed end portion of the lower compartment, and two guide members each mounted in a diflerent one of said closed end portions opposite said passageway and having two sides curving toward the latter from the legs of the associated compartments to engage liquid streams flowing from the legs and direct the same into mergence as a single stream at the passageway, each of said guides also engaging the liquid stream flowing out of said passageway to divide such streaminto two streams and direct the same toward the legs of the associated compartment.

7. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank having an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and upper and lower U-shaped'compartments each having a closed end portion joining legs spaced apart on opposite sides of the chamber and communicating with the latter through openings on their inner sides, said compartments having a common dividing wall defined by a liquid blocking plate of U-shape extending horizontally between the compartments and having an aperture in its closed end portion establishing communication between the compartments at their closed end portions, an impeller mounted in said aperture and operable when activated to cause liquid to flow from a first one of said compartments into the other through the aperture, through the legs of the other compartment and said openings therein and into said chamber, and back to the aperture through the openings and around the closed end and legs of the first compartment, and a guide member mounted in the closed end portion of said first compartment opposite said aperture and having oppositely facing sides curving away from the legs of the compartment and toward the aperture to engage streams of liquid flowing into and along the closed end portion from the legs and direct such streams into mergence for flow through the aperture as a single stream,

8. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank having an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and upper and lower compartments of generally U-shape each having a closed end portion joining legs spaced apart on opposite sides of the chamber and communicating with the latter through openings in their defining walls, said openings of said upper compartment being spaced above said openings of said lower compartment, means defining a passageway between said compartments at their closed end portions, liquid blocking wall means separating said compartments and confining the flow of liquid into and out of the same to paths extending through said openings and said passageway, an impeller mounted in said passageway and operable when activated to cause fluid to'flow from a first one of said compartments into the other through the passage- Way, through the legs of the other compartment and said openings therein and into said chamber, and back to the passageway through the openings and around the closed end and legs of the first compartment, and a guide member mounted in the closed end portion of said first compartment opposite said passageway and having two sides curving from the legs of the compartment and toward the passageway to engage streams of liquid flowing into and along the closed end portion of the compartment from the legs and direct such streams smoothly into mergence with each other at the entrance to the passageway.

9. Quenching apparatus comprising, in combination, a liquid containing tank of generally rectangular shape open at the top and having a bottom wall and four upstanding walls, a divider plate of U-shape secured to and projecting inwardly and horizontally from three of said upstanding walls intermediate the top and bottom of the latter, an upper plate of U-shaped disposed above said divider plate and projecting horizontally and inwardly from said three walls, an upstanding plate spanning said bottom wall and said divider and upper plates at the inner edges of the closed ends of the divider and upper plates and cooperating with the latter said upstanding walls to define upper and lower compartments of U-shape each having openings on the inner sides of its laterally spaced legs, said divider plate having an aperture formed in said closed end thereof to establish communication between said compartments, the portion of said tank between said compartment legs constituting a quenching chamber adapted to receive workpieces to be immersed in liquid in the tank, and an impeller mounted in said aperture in said divider plate and operable when activated to cause said liquid to flow in a path extending from a first one of said compartments to the other through the aperture, around the closed end and into the legs of the other compartment, through said openings in the latter and into said chamber, from the chamber and into the legs of the first compartment through the openings therein, and finally back to the aperture through the legs and around the closed end of the first compartment.

10. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank having an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and upper and lower U-shaped compartments each having a closed end portion joining legs spaced apart on opposite sides of the chamber and communicating with the latter through openings on their inner sides, said compartments having a common dividing wall defined by a plate of U-shape extending horizontally between the compartments and having an aperture in its closed end portion establishing communication between the compartments at their closed end portions, and an impeller mounted in said aperture and operable when activated to cause liquid to flow from a first one of said compartments into the other through the aperture, through the legs of the other compartment and said openings therein and into said chamber, vertically through the latter and back to the aperture through the openings and around the closed end and legs of the first compartment.

ll. Quenching apparatus having, in combination a liquid containing tank having an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and upper and lower compartments of generally U-shape each having a closed end portion joining legs spaced apart on opposite sides of the chamber and communicating with the latter through openings in their defining walls, said openings of said upper compartment being spaced above said openings of said lower compartment, means defining a passageway between said compartments at their closed end portions, liquid blocking wall means separating said compartments and confining the flow of liquid into and out of the same to paths extending through said openings and said passageway, and an impeller mounted in said passageway and operable when activated to cause liquid to flow from a first one of said compartments into the other through the passageway, through the legs of the other compartment and said openings therein and into said chamber, vertically through the latter, and back to the passageway through the openings and around the closed end and legs of the first compartment.

12. Quenching apparatus having, in combination, a liquid containing tank divided into an upwardly opening work receiving chamber and two compartments each having leg portions connected to each other at a closed end portion and spaced apart on opposite sides of the chamber, each of said leg portions of a first one of said compartments having openings establishing communication between the leg portion and said chamber and spaced within the chamber from similar openings in the leg portions of the other compartment, means defining a passageway between said closed end portions of said compartments, liquid blocking wall means separating said compartments and confining the flow of liquid into and out of the same to paths extending through said openings and said passageway, and an impeller mounted in said passageway and operable to cause fluid to flow from said first compartment to the other, through the leg portions of the latter and the openings therein and into said chamher, from the chamber and into the leg portions of the first compartment through the openings therein, and back to the passageway through the leg and closed end portions of the first compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

